What’s your favorite chaotic academia book?
Nov 25 2024
Alright, we’ve done light academia and romantic academia – the soft, magical worlds that feel like sipping tea in a well-worn armchair. But what about when you want things to get a little... messy? Enter chaotic academia. Think high stakes, morally ambiguous characters, complicated friendships, and just enough danger to keep your heart racing. These books serve up all the academia vibes, but with a darker, wilder edge. They’re for when you want the energy of someone storming out of a lecture with a dramatic coat swish.If you’re ready for secrets, schemes, and just a touch of chaos, here are the chaotic academia reads you need this season."The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, #1)" by Maggie StiefvaterThis one is peak chaotic academia with its mix of boarding school drama, magical quests, and deeply complicated friendships. Gansey and his ragtag group of friends (The Raven Boys) are searching for a mythical Welsh king who’s apparently just hanging out in Virginia, waiting to be woken up. Add Blue, a girl cursed to kill her true love with a kiss, and you’ve got a beautifully tangled story full of magic, heartbreak, and obsession. It’s moody, mysterious, and brimming with chaotic energy."Bunny" by Mona AwadImagine Mean Girls went to an MFA program, got into dark magic, and absolutely lost their minds. That’s “Bunny.” This book follows Samantha, an outsider in a prestigious creative writing program, who gets drawn into a bizarre clique of women who call each other “Bunny” and have some seriously weird rituals. It’s unsettling, hilarious, and downright unhinged in the best way. If chaotic academia were a vibe, this would be it: artsy, twisted, and a little too intense."A Deadly Education" by Naomi NovikWelcome to the Scholomance, a school for magic where your graduation rate depends on your survival skills. El, the prickly protagonist of “A Deadly Education,” is trying to make it through without succumbing to the deadly monsters that lurk in the school—or her own potentially world-ending magic. This book is chaotic academia turned up to eleven, with high-stakes battles, questionable alliances, and plenty of magical mayhem. It’s dark, thrilling, and completely addictive."Portrait of a Thief" by Grace D. LiNothing says chaotic academia like a group of overachieving college students turning to art heists. “Portrait of a Thief” follows a crew of Ivy League students tasked with stealing back Chinese artifacts from Western museums. It’s a story of cultural identity, ambition, and how far you’ll go to reclaim what’s yours. The characters are smart, reckless, and full of flaws, making this a perfectly chaotic ride through academia’s glossier, high-stakes side."The Things We Do to Our Friends" by Heather DarwentThis one’s got big dark academia meets girlboss gone wrong energy. Clare arrives at Edinburgh University looking for a fresh start, but she’s quickly drawn into an exclusive and manipulative friend group. What starts as glamorous and intoxicating soon spirals into something much darker as secrets are revealed and loyalties are tested. With its Gothic vibes and morally messy characters, “The Things We Do to Our Friends” is the perfect mix of academia and chaos.Chaotic academia isn’t about playing it safe—it’s about diving headfirst into the drama, danger, and intrigue of complex characters and their messy, high-stakes worlds. Whether it’s heists, magic, or toxic friendships, these books will keep you guessing and completely hooked. So throw on a dramatic scarf, sip on something strong (coffee or otherwise), and embrace the chaos.
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